Exterior Foundation Waterproofing

Water may affect your Burlington Ontario basement in different forms, either as a vapour or as a liquid. Water as a liquid does not always mean that you will see glaring evidence of water.

The basement structure can retain a high moisture content prior to water becoming evident. The damage which is happening is slow, subtle and detrimental to your basement.

Conterra Foundation and Repair permanently solves wet basement problems through our proven process. This process can vary slightly depending on the circumstances, type of foundation, geograhics and the condition of your building.

Exterior Waterproofing and Foundation Repair

This requires excavation to the foundation footing, or the bottom of the foundation.

Regardless of your circumstances, whether you are experiencing seepage or dampness through the walls, exterior waterproofing will always solve your problem. If suggested otherwise, you are being sold on a stand-alone interior water control system. This method of de-watering does not waterproof a basement it only prevents water from appearing on your floor. Water and moisture still enter the building structure and is simply redirected. If you’re using an interior de-watering method you are actually contributing to the deterioration of the concrete because the concrete cannot breathe.

Waterproofing a foundation completely eliminates water and moisture penetration through the walls into a basement. For a basement to be absolutely waterproof, it needs to have protection from sub-surface water for all of the below grade walls preferably on the positive side of entry. All of this protection must span from grade level down to the foundation footing or a depth deeper than the basement floor.

We begin by repairing all foundation cracks with a hydraulic cement which expands as it cures, to eliminate the damage. We then apply a portland cement based waterproofing coating to completely fill any hairline cracks and seal mortar joints. A second layer made of a self-adhesive elastomeric membrane is then applied to the primed wall and remains pliable and expands to bridge any possible future cracking.

Finally, to obtain superior and permanent protection we hang an extremely durable dimpled Delta –MS membrane. This extends from grade level over and including the footing.

The plastic dimpled core provides compressive strength to keep headwater pressure off the face of the wall, and creates a drainage space (air-gap) between the surrounding soil and wall, that allows high capacity flow to the foundation drainage system. The polymeric film provides additional protection to the elastomeric waterproofing membrane and also protects it during backfill. This process effectively provides your foundation walls with three lines of defense.

If you are going to have your foundation excavated, give yourself the peace of mind that comes from hiring a foundation and repair company that utilizes the most advanced materials available, and applies them with the experience needed to get the job done right once and for all.

There remains a very noticeable difference in a home that has been waterproofed with our process, compared to a home that has been dampproofed with tar and plastic or other inferior methods.

Successfully blocking the sub-surface water from basement walls is not enough. The water that enters the ground around your foundation will not disappear.

A drainage system must be installed to intercept the water that has been blocked by the waterproofing materials otherwise the water will cause immense hydrostatic pressure to build up outside the foundation walls.

Water doesn't stack very well so it usually finds its way to the area under the basement floor and then rises from under the floor as it tries to seek its own level.

Floods can and often do occur without a single drop of water penetrating the basement walls. Waterproofing without proper drainage is destined to fail, and vice versa in many cases.

There are different methods of moving the water that waterproofing has blocked from penetrating the walls. Installing a sump pit with a good quality pump and battery back-up system or to the city storm drain. Some municipalities require the installation of a sump pit for all retrofit situations.

Prior to connecting the new weeping tile we check the condition of the existing tile. It may require a high pressure flush to ensure it is working properly. This can be done without any additional excavation.

As stated above, for a basement to be absolutely waterproof, it needs to have protection against sub-surface water for all of the below grade walls. Sealing a wall on the inside traps water within the wall and actually speeds up the deterioration of the wall, which could lead to foundation walls bowing and serious structural damage.

Water concealed below grade can get under the footings in a foundation, and destabilize the structural integrity of your home or business. This can lead to cracked foundation walls and footings, and very costly repairs. Standing water and heavy moisture behind finished walls can lead to an infestation of mould, mildew and fungus on the joists, studs, carpet and baseboards.

Not only can mould lead to wood-rot and costly repairs, the spores that can be released in the air can be quite damaging to your health. The key to controlling mould growth is keeping our environments dry and by maintaining a low relative humidity.

Waterproofing your foundation will prevent any water from damaging your home and save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Call Conterra Foundation and Repair for your free Exterior Foundation Waterproofing inspection and repair quote. Since 1993 we have been servicing the Burlington and Hamilton Ontario area.

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